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Red Cross Pulls in $8M In Text Message Donations

Relief agency says it can handle more cash for earthquake aid
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 15, 2010 12:01 PM CST
Red Cross Pulls in $8M In Text Message Donations
A Mexican Red Cross worker loads humanitarian aid leaving for Haiti at the Mexican Red Cross building in Mexico City, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Text messaging has proven to be a wildly popular method of donating to the relief effort in Haiti. As of 8:25 this morning, the Red Cross had pulled in more than $8 million through text messages, Fox News reports. That’s the most mobile donations “that we have ever seen,” says the head of mGive, the nonprofit that set up the mobile donation service. Money is pouring in at a rate of roughly $200,000 an hour, in $10 increments.

A Red Cross spokesman called the contributions “nothing short of awe-inspiring,” though he noted that the majority of donations are still coming through the organization's website, redcross.org. To donate, head there, or text the word “Haiti” to 90999, which automatically charges a $10 donation to your phone bill. The four major wireless providers have agreed to waive the charge for users whose accounts don't cover unlimited texting, the Consumerist blog reports.
(More Haiti stories.)

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